Asian markets are exhibiting mixed trend in the early deals on Monday as investors mulled the prospects of a likely interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve later this month as well as slower Chinese economic growth this year. Heightened geopolitical tensions after North Korea fired four ballistic missiles off its east coast, also dampening investors' risk appetite. Japanese shares fell as the yen firmed and as global geopolitical tensions rose after North Korea fired four missiles, three of which landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone. Among the other Asian markets, South Korea, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan are up with modest gains. Bucking the trend, Indonesia, and Singapore are lower.
Shanghai Composite added 11.79 points or 0.37% to 3,230.10, Hang Seng gained 87.31 points or 0.37% to 23,640.03, KOSPI Index increased 1.88 points or 0.09% to 2,080.63, Taiwan Weighted rose 32.44 points or 0.34% to 9,680.65 and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was up by 10.96 points or 0.64% to 1,719.34.
On the flip side, Nikkei 225 declined 87.20 points or 0.45% to 19,381.97, Jakarta Composite slipped 0.21 points to 5,391.00, and Straits Times was down by 4.80 points or 0.15% to 3,117.54.